Lib Dems deliver budget way below inflation

Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Borough were successful in delivering a budget which protects services and keeps Council Tax increases well below inflation.

The council, which the Lib Dems run in partnership with the Independent Group councillors, approved the budget with cross party support. This includes a Council Tax increase of 1.99% and a 2% increase in the Adult Social Care Precept. This is well below inflation currently running at around 10%.

Lib Dem Cllr Glyn Nightingale, who is the Cabinet Member responsible for Corporate Resources, said: “All councils face severe challenges in economically difficult times, with the highest inflation for 40 years, the Truss government’s ineptitude forcing borrowing costs higher and long-term cuts in central government support. Equally, the Conservative government is committed to shifting the burden of taxation on to Council Tax.

“Obviously no one wishes to impose more burdens on local people but the blame rests entirely with the Conservative government.

“It is vital that we have been able to protect services for vulnerable residents and maintain help for economically vulnerable households with many having a reduction in their council tax bill.”

Cllr Karen King, Lib Dem Group Leader on the council, added: “We have kept the Council Tax increase well below inflation, lower than the 5% increase expected by the Conservative government, lower than what many North-East councils plan and lower than 79% of councils across the country. This is on top of a zero increase last year.

”There is no alternative in the current economic climate.”

Loftus Town Council Announcement

Itis with great reluctance and disappointment that Loftus Town Council has informed Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council that the Finance Requirement for the Town Council for 2023/24 has risen to £154415 for the year, and that this charge will need to be met in full by Council Tax contributions from the residents of Loftus Parish. More detailed information, including the results from the Loftus Town Council budget survey can be read on the Town Council website, https:// www.loftustc.co.uk/.../precept-request-pressrelease, if you wish to discuss any points please do so by e-mail to the Town Council, at office@ loftustc.co.uk.”

The latest application by the fund was open for consultation until February 6th, with objections once again flooding the council. Dr Learoyd reiterated his confidence that the proposal would be rejected as it was in 2014. “The scheme is not viable, it is a structural, environmental and ecological disaster which will flood a railway and burden local taxpayers with multi-million infrastructure costs for a development they don’t want. The proposal will also dramatically increase traffic at pinch points on Marske High Street. Marske doesn’t have school places available to support such a large development, and anybody who has called an ambulance knows that health services can’t support more houses locally”, said Dr Learoyd.

Learoyd also called on the council to update it’s building requirements to reflect its 2030 carbon neutral climate change target. “The South of Marske proposal includes gas boilers instead of heat pumps in all 810 houses and less than than one 300W solar panel per house on average. The council needs to act and not allow international elite billionaires investing in property and energy firms to exploit people with unsustainable housing exposing buyers of new builds elsewhere in the borough to high energy prices”, Tristan said.